Rail-joint.



n. c. MYERS.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATIONv FILED MAY 8, 1915- 1,203,387. Patented Oct. 31,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

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n. c. MYERS.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 191a.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

2 $HEETSSHEET 2.

DEWIT'I C. MYERS, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO JOHN P. SHEEHAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 19163 Application fi1ed May 8, 1916. Serial No. 96,082.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Dnwrr'r C. MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as rail joints, or those devices used for securing or connecting together the meeting ends of railway rails or the like.

The invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described that is simple, safe, convenient, economical, durable, efficient and satisfactory, for use wherever found applicable.

The invention in addition has as an object the production of a device for securing the meeting ends of said rails to the tie. WVith the construction shown it is also unnecessary to use bolts connecting the rail joint to either of the rails, although, of course, this may be done if desired.

The invention also has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described that will be applicable for rails of slightly varying size.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the preferred form of my device applied to the rails and tie; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. l is a sectional view taken substantially on line H of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the parts; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the cooperating parts, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a shim, which may be employed if desired.

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred form of my device is shown, it

may be mentioned that in the broadest sense my invention consists of a connecting member similar to that shown in Fig. 5, and two side or clamping members similar to that shown in Fig. 6, a set of the three parts being provided for each pair of rails to be joined. In Fig. 1, I have shown two rails 1 and 2 and a tie 3, the ends of the two rails being brought substantially adjacent, but with the desired space between them. Arranged on each side of the rails, and overlapping the same is a side or clamping member 4, preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 6, with a face-5 adapted to conform to substantially normally fit the webs between the under side .of the heads and the upper side of the two rails, as shown in Figs. 3 and at. The same is also preferably notched or cut away at the top side or face, to provide a recess 6. I have shown part 4L countersunk, as'at 7, and arranged to receive a shim 8, notched at 9, to correspond with the recess 6. The shim may be used or omitted as desired, the object of the same being as more fully set forth hereafter.

Arranged to cooperate with the two mem- V bers a is a connecting or key member consisting of the'central part 10, the two legs or parts 11, 11 and the flanges 12, 1:2. The part is preferably formed of one integral piece of material, the proportions of the same and grade of material depending upon the use of the rail joint and the preference of the user or manufacturer. The part 10 or connecting portion, is formed to substantially conform to or extend flush with the rail at the upper face of the head, as most clearly shown in Fig. i, with a part below the head arranged to extend in the recesses 6. The parts or legs 11 are formed with shoulders 15, arranged to overlie and bear 1 'stantially close together;

7 key member shown in Fig.

uniform in size, so that a supply of various sizes of joints is not needed to secure the fit mentioned.

The flanges 12,12 may be secured to the ties in any suitable or desired manner, this depending upon the preference of the railroad using the same, as well as upon the style of tie, etc, used, or whether the traffic is heavy or light, or the track is permanent or temporary. I have shown the flanges 12 provided with notches or recesses 17, through which spikes 19, or the like, may be driven into the tie, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, securing the parts tightly to the ties. I have also shown the bolt holes 1 8, in case it is desired to secure the parts to steel or metal ties by bolts or the like. Either method of fastening may be employed, as may any equivalent, the particular design of the flange, or the style and size or" the opening or the fastening means depending upon the method of fastening desired.

It should be particularly noted that with my joint the rails do not have to be cut or madespecially in Order to make the device usable, a point of supreme importance, as standard rolled rails may be and are used for track purposes. This permits the installation of my devices on road beds now in operation.

In using the, device, two'rails are arranged on the tie, with their two ends adjacent, but

slightly spaced. The twoside members 4 are then arranged in place, one on each side of the rails, after which the connecting or 5. may be pushed or driven down into place with the part 10 extending between the two rails, and the faceslfi en-gaging the two members a. The flanges 12 may then be suitably secured to the tie. It villbe noted that with this construction it is not necessary'tomanipulate,

raise, incline or tilt the rails in making the connection, that is to say, the rails are merely laid along the track with their ends sub They may be moved lengthwise or sidewise on the tie to aline the rails, or to space the same, or to space them with the rails at the opposite side of the track or end of the tie to secure the proper gage of the track. The members 4 are first positioned and then the securing key pushed into place. This is of considerable importance, as the track may be quickly laid in a very economical manner. One man with a crow-bar can easily manipulate the rail, even though a heavy rail, to obtain the slight accuracy in alinement necessary. While bolts may pass through the side members 4, and the two rails, this is ordinarily unnecessary. "If necessary, one or more shims may be placed to secure a tight fit. I have shown a bonding Wire 20, suitably secured to the two rails 1 and 2, and electrically connecting the same. It will be noted by larly to Figs. 3 and at, that there is ample space between one of the members 4; and the adjacent part 11, through which the Wire are connected in such manner as to securev great safety, inasmuch'as the rails are secured together in the most efiicient and: Workmanlike manner, Expansion and: contraction of the rails are possible. In the case of repair, or temporary work, where it is not referring particu-' necessary to secure the rails to the joints' with any great strength, an emergency track may be laid in a surprisingly short time.

r he rails are locked together in such manner that the load is distributed on both rails,

and the space between the rails substantially I I V V nLed V lVhile I have referred to tie 3, in some cases of construction work where temporary tracks are laid, these may be merely a plate for securing the parts together.

Where the rail joint is used forconnecting the rails of small equipments, construction lines, or the like, and in whlch portable tracks are ordmarlly employed, my improved rail joint afiords a most convenient. method of secunng and locking the various sections together, or unlocking the same.

Having thus described my invention, it j is obvious that various immaterial modifications maybe made in the same without de parting from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction;

arrangement and combination of parts here- 1n shown and described, and uses mentioned. W hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. railway joint of the kind described, comprising clamping members constructed to be arranged one on each side ofthe abutting'ends' of the rails, and a key member having its top face flush with the top faces of the rails and arranged between said abutting ends and overlying and engaging the said clamping members.

a pair of substantially similar- 2. A railway joint of the kind described,

comprising a V clamping members constructed to be arpair of substantially similar ranged one on each side of the abutting ends ofthe rails, ranged between said abutting ends and enand' a detachable key member are V gaging the said clamping members, and having means for securing the same to the railway tie.

3. A railway joint of the kind described, comprising a pair of substantially similar clamping members arranged one on each side of the abutting ends of the rails, and a key member arranged between said abutting ends and engaging the said clamping members, said key member provided with depending legs, formed with flanges at their lower ends, having their under sides disposed substantially in the plane of the under sides of the treads of the rails.

4:. A railway joint comprising separable clamping members, each formed to conform to, and closely fit the sides of the webs of the adjoining ends of two rails between the head and tread thereof, and a key member extending between the rail ends and overlying and engaging said clamping members on their outer sides.

5. A railway joint comprising separable clamping members, each formed to conform to and closely fit the sides of the webs'of the adjoining ends of two rails between their heads and treads, and a key member extending between the rail ends and overlying and engaging said clamping members on their outer sides, said overlying portions having outwardly projecting flanges at the ends thereof extending laterally to overlie the tie.

6. In a railway joint, a key member having a part extended between the abutting ends of the rails, with its topedge substantially flush with the top faces of the tworail heads, and its lower edge substantially midway between the head and tread of the rail, said part extended at each side of the rails, and thence downwardly to substantially flush with the under side of the rail bases, and thence laterally outward to constitute flanges, with their lower faces substantially in the plane of the lower faces of the bases of the rails.

7. In a rail joint of the kind described and in combination, a pair of similarly formed clamping members arranged one on each side of the abutting ends of two rails, each of said members formed to conform to and closely fit the sides of the web of the said rails between their heads and treads, each member formed with a notch cut out of the top side at a point between the abutting ends of the rails, and a connecting member having a part extending between the rail ends and formed with its top edge substantiallyv flush, and conforming to the heads of the rails, with its lower edge disposed below the heads substantially midway between the heads and treads, said part of a size to normally fit said notches, and of a length to project to the exterior faces of said side members, said member formed at the exterior of said clamping members to overlie the 'same, and extended downwardly, and provided with flanges extended laterally, with their lower faces substantially flush with the lower face of the treads of the rails.

8. In a rail joint of the kind described and in combination, a pair of similarly formed clamping members arranged one each side of the abutting ends of two rails,

each of said members constructed to con-' form to and closely fit the sides of the web of the said rails between their heads and treads, each member formed with a notch cut out of the top side at a point between the abutting ends of the rails, a connecting member having a part extending between the rail ends and formed with its top edge substantially flush, and conforming to the head of the rail, with its lower edge disposed below the head substantially midway between the head and tread, said part of a size to normally fit said notches, and of a length to project to the exterior face of said side members, said member formed at the exterior of said clamping members to overlie the same, and extended downwardly, and provided with flanges extended laterally with their lower faces substantially flush with the lower face of the treads of the rail, one of said parts spaced from the lower part of the adjacent clamping member and rail tread,

means for affording adjustment between the clamping members and connecting member as required.

9. In a rail joint of the kind described and in combination, a pair of side members formed to conform to the web and under side of the head and top side of the tread of two abutting rail ends, said members each hav: ing its inner face fitting the rail and its outer face extending between the sides of the head and edge of the tread, each member having a portion cut away intermediate its ends at the top face, a locking member consisting of a suitable part provided with a leg at each end, each leg formed with a flange at its base, said connecting part formed with its upper portion conforming to the head of the rail, and with itslower portion extending down to midway between the head and tread of the rail, with its ends substantially conforming to the outer face of said members and closely fitting said cut away portion, said legs formed with shoulders overlying said side members at each side of said cut away portion, and partially cut away from the lower portion of said side members, the flanges each provided with one or more apertures of a size to receive suitable means for securing the flanges to the tie, and shims for said clamping members arranged between the members and said shoulders on said legs.

10. A rail joint, comprising three parts,

two of said parts similarly formed and of a, size to substantially fit and overlie the side of two abutting rails, one on each side thereof, the third member formed toextend between the two rails below the top thereof, and overlie the said side members and the tie, the exterior faces of said two side members being slightly inclined, whereby the third member may be inserted and secured 10 in place after the two rails and side members are arranged substantially in. operative positions In testimony whereof, -I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses;

DEWITT C. MYERS.

Witnesses V ROY W. HILL, CHARLES I. COBB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

